Who wants a perfect Christmas tree? Beautiful, green branches with pretty ornaments spaced at just the right distance. A tree that is shaped evenly with a nice, straight top. On that top, a special tree topper that reaches to the ceiling. Just like the magazine pictures. I think we all enjoy a beautiful Christmas tree but...

How do we balance our perfectionism for the picture perfect tree with allowing the tree decorating to be a family affair?

Because kids don’t always have that pinterest touch….

In our family, the focus has been on building memories together. We have always had a real tree but the past two years, we have taken our tree “shopping” to a whole new level. While listening to Christmas music (okay, I had to kind of force this as my middle school aged kids would much prefer their favorite pop music station), we headed into the mountains to choose our “perfect” tree from the forest. This year, we hit some snow in the process and it was quite the adventure! We eventually found our tree in a little open spot after clambering up a hill and it was perfect! At least to us!

Once we got the tree in the stand, my husband and I strung the lights around it while the kids excitedly unpacked the ornaments. Decorating with ornaments has always involved the whole family. When the kids were little, I would give them the ornaments that were less fragile and have them decorate the lower branches which were perfect for their height. Now that the kids are older, they especially enjoy decorating with ornaments that are special to them!
​
This year, one of my kids decided to make a branch with ALL the ornaments that he had received as gifts or that were personalized with his name. This resulted in one branch being loaded down with many ornaments so I had to remind him this is our family tree and to spread things out a bit before the tree was going to fall over from being lopsided!

Most of our ornaments have a story or memory associated with them. Many of them are handmade over the years. Recently, I have added a lot of handmade, wood burned ornaments to my etsy shop and I hope these will become cherished keepsakes in their new homes. This thought gives me so much joy! The feedback I have received so far, encourages me to continue making these little pieces of art and share them with others!

I would love to hear from you about your Christmas tree traditions! Do you let your kids decorate the Christmas tree? How do you create and foster special Christmas memories in your home? I look forward to your comments below. And sharing is caring! Thanks!

P.S. Don’t miss out on the handmade, wooden ornaments in my etsy shop! Click here to check availability for these one-of-a-kind Christmas keepsakes! Have a wonderful holiday season!

Are you feeling overwhelmed by all the negative news? Worn down by the craziness of the world? Receive a dash of positivity and a friendly reminder of the simple joys in your inbox when you sign up below. You even receive an exclusive, free gift tag printable! Join the club!